Nicole Lapinhttp://www.businessinsider.com/category/nicole-lapin
en-usSun, 02 Aug 2015 17:24:10 -0400Sun, 02 Aug 2015 17:24:10 -0400The latest news on Nicole Lapin from Business Insiderhttp://static3.businessinsider.com/assets/images/bilogo-250x36-wide-rev.pngBusiness Insiderhttp://www.businessinsider.com
http://www.businessinsider.com/nicole-lapin-has-joined-bloomberg-tv-2012-9Former CNBC Anchor Nicole Lapin Has Joined Bloomberg TV http://www.businessinsider.com/nicole-lapin-has-joined-bloomberg-tv-2012-9
Thu, 06 Sep 2012 13:58:00 -0400Julia La Roche
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5048e7b369bedd755f00000b/nicole-lapin.jpg" border="0" alt="Nicole Lapin" /></p><p>Nicole Lapin has returned to financial television joining <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/bloomberg">Bloomberg</a> TV.</p>
<p>She was on <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/bloomberg" class="hidden_link">Bloomberg</a> TV just moments ago talking about an interview she did with <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/foursquare" class="hidden_link">Foursquare</a> founder <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/dennis-crowley" class="hidden_link">Dennis Crowley</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p><span>Sources at Bloomberg have confirmed that Lapin is currently on the tech beat at the network.&nbsp;<span>Right now, she's filling in as a substitute anchor on "Bloomberg West."&nbsp;</span></span></p>
<p><span></span>She will be filling in on "Bloomberg West" (along with West Coast contributor Willow Bay) for Emily Chang, who&nbsp;is due to go on maternity leave any day now, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/business-insider" class="hidden_link">Business Insider</a> has learned.</p>
<p><span><span>"Bloomberg TV is really on the pulse of the growing tech scene, from New York City to San Francisco. We're following the new money trail, and I'm excited to be working on the most innovative business team in the industry," Lapin said in a statement to Business Insider about her new role at Bloomberg TV.</span></span></p>
<p>A year ago, the 28-year-old broadcast beauty left <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/cnbc" class="hidden_link">CNBC</a> where she anchored &nbsp;"World Wide Exchange" to launch her own multimedia production company <a href="http://www.nothingbutgoldproductions.com/">Nothing But Gold Productions</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>At that time, she started up financial advice website for women&nbsp;<a href="http://recessionista.com/">Recessionista.com</a>&nbsp;and has made appearances on <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/abc" class="hidden_link">ABC</a>, ET and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/cnn" class="hidden_link">CNN</a>.</p>
<p>Lapin is also a CNN veteran where she spent four years anchoring. &nbsp;She was also one of the youngest anchors in the network's history.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>SEE ALSO: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/a-day-in-the-life-of-26-year-old-nicole-lapin-as-she-tries-to-build-a-financial-media-empire-2011-11?op=1">A Day In The Life Of Nicole Lapin &gt;</a></strong></p>
<p><strong><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5048e6f069beddef59000017/nicole-lapin.png" border="0" alt="Nicole Lapin" /><br /></strong></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nicole-lapin-has-joined-bloomberg-tv-2012-9#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/nicole-lapin-whats-keeping-gen-y-behind-2012-7NICOLE LAPIN: Here's How Gen Y Can Get Their Money Ahead Of The Curvehttp://www.businessinsider.com/nicole-lapin-whats-keeping-gen-y-behind-2012-7
Thu, 05 Jul 2012 15:52:00 -0400Susan Johnston
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/4ec6993deab8ea4b44000029/nicole-lapin.jpg" border="0" alt="nicole lapin" /></p><p>At age 28, financial reporter Nicole Lapin has covered breaking news for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/cnn" class="hidden_link">CNN</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/cnbc" class="hidden_link">CNBC</a>, and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/msnbc" class="hidden_link">MSNBC</a>. Lapin recently left her job as a CNBC anchor to found Nothing But Gold Productions, a multimedia production company that translates complex financial concepts for Generation Yers.</p>
<p><em>U.S. News</em> recently chatted with Lapin about how she learned the ropes and what she sees as the biggest financial hurdles for her generation. Excerpts:</p>
<p>[See <a href="http://money.usnews.com/funds/mutual-funds">Top-Rated Funds by Category</a> Ranked by <em>U.S. News</em> Mutual Fund Score.]</p>
<p><strong>What do you think is the biggest financial challenge Millennials face: student debt, unemployment, or something else?</strong></p>
<p>I think those are big ones&mdash;probably a combination of those things. I think student debt is the underlying debt threat that we're seeing around the country, and I think that we're just now seeing the beginning of it. I felt a void in financial experts who were talking to a younger generation. They tell you all the time: "Do not buy a latte, buy a house." And I don't know if that's the right message for everybody. Certainly it is for some folks, but it's not for everybody, and it's not especially for a young generation who's coming up in this world with $300,000 of debt and very few job prospects.</p>
<p>I think we're seeing a landscape that's changing because of some of the problems with student debt and unemployment. And the voices in guiding young people need to change, and I wanted to do that.</p>
<p><strong>There's a lot of focus on that latte's impact on personal finance, isn't there? </strong></p>
<p>I think looking at a latte is a really interesting example of how to look at personal finance for any generation. It's a small indulgence, it gets you to work earlier, it gives you more energy. I think investing in yourself is going to pay most dividends in the future.</p>
<p><strong>Instead of cutting out lattes, what should young people do? </strong></p>
<p>I think it's about not beating yourself up over small indulgences that may get you ahead in work, it's about changing the kind of mindset of what the gospel is. I don't think people stop to question it. I know it was really important for me to stop and question, and I had understood the ins and outs of Wall Street, and I wanted to democratize that information.</p>
<p>[See <a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/mutual-funds/articles/2012/06/18/some-401k-plans-let-you-take-the-wheelif-you-dare">Some 401(k) Plans Let You Take the Wheel&mdash;If You Dare</a>.]</p>
<p><strong>What is the ultimate goal with Nothing But Gold and your other projects?</strong></p>
<p>I wanted to create accessible financial information across a variety of channels, and I think there was such a void in that. Money is not stocks and bonds anymore. Even celebrity news goes back to money. Money has changed, in the way people are making it and growing it into <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/twitter" class="hidden_link">Twitter</a> endorsements and all sorts of interesting new ways.</p>
<p>I think it was really important for me to tell the scrappy entrepreneurial stories that I think are the winner of this recession and give them a voice and give them a platform. Through the company, I wanted to create accessible financial content, especially starting out with women. It's a new type of financial expert. I'm not going to yell at you. I'm not going to make you scared when you see the jobless numbers. I'm going to say, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going and there are ways to navigate this recession. There are creative entrepreneurial ways to do it, and here's how."</p>
<p><strong>You achieved a lot of success very young. What advice would you have for other young women who might be stuck in an entry-level job or struggling to be taken seriously as a manager? </strong></p>
<p>Just go ahead and do whatever you ultimately had in mind. If you want to be a filmmaker, go and shoot video. If you want to be a writer, don't wait for a publisher to say, "Here's a big advance." Do it first. Come to a publisher with a manuscript already done. If you want to be on TV, go start a video blog. Don't wait for somebody to give you the opportunity because those opportunities are drying up, and I think that young people should look becoming their own boss in a smart, scrappy way.</p>
<p>And also play to your weaknesses. I think that time and again, we hear people say, "Play to your strengths, play to your work strength." Well, I think actually play to the thing that you're doing most. If you're tweeting, don't be mad at yourself about doing that, figure out a way to monetize it, figure out a way to be a Twitter ambassador. Or if you are potentially interested in a fashion brand, and you find yourself on their site all the time, don't hate yourself for it, contact that company, and ask them to be a brand ambassador. I think having the right bit of chutzpah, and asking for things is the recipe to not feeling depressed by all the jobs numbers and student debt.</p>
<p>[See <a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/the-smarter-mutual-fund-investor/2012/06/05/avoiding-common-investing-mistakes-">How to Avoid Common Investing Mistakes</a>.]</p>
<p><strong>Has that chutzpah helped you succeed? Any stories you could share? </strong></p>
<p>Yes, I think chutzpah is my middle name. For my first internship, I was shuffled around through HR because I was too young, and I finally showed up at Asa Aaron's desk, and I said, "I'm your summer intern." He said, "If you could get through NBC's security, I'd say you're a good intern." So I cut through the red tape of everybody telling me no, that I was too young, and I just went and asked for it.</p>
<p>I didn't have a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/rosetta-stone" class="hidden_link">Rosetta Stone</a> for financial information, which I hope to be, but I had a lot of chutzpah. I was in high school and my boyfriend said that he wanted to be a hedge-fund manager, and I just smiled and nodded, and I was like, "That's great, you want to be in gardening, babe."</p>
<p><strong>Obviously, you've come a long way since then. How did you learn about Wall Street and investments? </strong></p>
<p>I begged a broadcasting company in <a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/mutual-funds/articles/2012/07/02/how-gen-y-can-overcome-its-biggest-financial-hurdles?page=2#" class="kLink"><span style="color: #005497; font-family: inherit ! important; font-weight: inherit ! important; font-size: inherit ! important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="color: #005497 ! important; font-family: inherit ! important; font-weight: inherit ! important; font-size: inherit ! important; position: static;">Chicago</span></span></a> to put me on the air in Milwaukee because I thought that was a big market, and I would take the <a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/mutual-funds/articles/2012/07/02/how-gen-y-can-overcome-its-biggest-financial-hurdles?page=2#" class="kLink"><span style="color: #005497; font-family: inherit ! important; font-weight: inherit ! important; font-size: inherit ! important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="color: #005497 ! important; font-family: inherit ! important; font-weight: inherit ! important; font-size: inherit ! important; position: static;">train</span></span></a> from Northwestern and do whatever I could do be on the air. They said there was a new business station they'd opened in Chicago. Did I know anything about business? I was like, "I will learn." I was 16 or 17 at the time. And so I was thrown on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and there's no way to fake it there. I learned very quickly. And then I came up to CNBC, talking about the wonkiest of wonky macroeconomic finances on a global show on CNBC. So I learned the language, I taught myself.</p>
<p>In my family, we didn't grow up reading the <em><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/wall-street-journal" class="hidden_link">Wall Street Journal</a></em>. I grew up in an immigrant household, and we didn't talk about that stuff. My girlfriends didn't talk about money, so it's always like a dirty little secret, a taboo. And so I wanted to break that, break the cycle.</p>
<p><strong>What's your advice for other young people on learning these concepts? </strong></p>
<p>Join the conversation. Stop smiling and nodding. And I think to really be educated on some of the terms that are thrown around not only in business news, but in general news.</p>
<h3>DON'T MISS: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/a-firsthand-account-of-how-i-got-my-finances-back-on-track-2011-11">How this millennial clawed her way out of debt at 22 &gt; </a></h3><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nicole-lapin-whats-keeping-gen-y-behind-2012-7#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/it-sounds-like-nicole-lapin-has-a-bone-to-pick-with-page-six-2012-2It Sounds Like Nicole Lapin Has A Bone To Pick With Page Sixhttp://www.businessinsider.com/it-sounds-like-nicole-lapin-has-a-bone-to-pick-with-page-six-2012-2
Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:17:00 -0500Julia La Roche
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4ec521efeab8ea8e20000010/nicole-lapin.jpg" border="0" alt="Nicole Lapin" /></p><p>We always enjoy when former <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/cnbc" class="hidden_link">CNBC</a> anchor Nicole Lapin, who recently started her own media company Nothing but Gold, shares her weekly words of wisdom in the so-called <a href="http://recessionista.com/2012/02/26/10-things-i-think-ive-learned-18/">"10 Things (I Think) I've Learned"</a> list.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Her most recent one, which covers issues from ice cream to almond butter, also makes it sound like she has a bone to pick with the New York Post's <em>Page Six.</em></p>
<p>She writes:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">7.&nbsp; <em>Page Six</em> actually does call to "fact-check."</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">8.&nbsp; But, actually printing them is their call.&nbsp;</p>
<p>A few weeks ago <a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/lapin_undercover_love_DrIHHlhww6lPx8UVA1XvLK"><em>Page Six</em> revealed Lapin's relationship with <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">41-year-old</span> 39-year-old billionaire Michael Rubin</a> who separated from his wife Meegan shortly before the couple got together, according to the Post.&nbsp;</p>
<p>A rep for Lapin, 27, also denied talk that her company was bankrolled by Rubin, according to <em>Page Six</em>.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/it-sounds-like-nicole-lapin-has-a-bone-to-pick-with-page-six-2012-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/nicole-lapin-here-are-5-people-who-shouldnt-invest-in-a-401k-2012-2NICOLE LAPIN: These People Shouldn't Invest In A 401(k)http://www.businessinsider.com/nicole-lapin-here-are-5-people-who-shouldnt-invest-in-a-401k-2012-2
Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:46:41 -0500Nicole Lapin
<p><span><img style="float:right;" src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/4bf417c57f8b9a7306350100/nicole-lapin.jpg" border="0" alt="Nicole Lapin" />Contrary to what many financial experts will tell you, investing in a 401k isn't for everyone.</span></p>
<p><span><strong>1. You don&rsquo;t have a personal savings account that covers 6-9 months of bills and expenses.</strong><span>&nbsp;Experts say you should have at least 3-6 months saved in case of an emergency, but more and more people are moving toward 6-9 months as the benchmark. You need to have liquid, readily available cash to cover expenses if you lose your job or are in a pinch. Contribute here first before your 401(k).</span></span></p>
<p><span><span><strong>2. Your company doesn&rsquo;t match your contributions.</strong><span>&nbsp;If your company isn&rsquo;t matching contributions there are other investment strategies you can use to save for retirement, that gives you a better idea of how much you will have when you do retire. Since your&nbsp;</span><a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/10/08/3-typical-pieces-of-financial-expert-advice-debunked/" title="3 Typical Pieces of &ldquo;Financial Expert&rdquo; Advice: Debunked">401(k) is directly connected</a><span>&nbsp;to the market conditions in 30-40 years, which is completely unpredictable, choose more conservative saving vehicles.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><strong>3. You have a lot of debt.</strong><span>&nbsp;Don&rsquo;t forget that your debt&rsquo;s interest is compounding just as much as money that&rsquo;s sitting in savings. If you have a substantial amount of debt with icky interest rates you&rsquo;re better off chiseling away at it early than investing it in the market.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><strong>4. You&rsquo;re saving for the down payment of a house.</strong><span>&nbsp;Typically 401ks allow a penalty free early withdrawal for those&nbsp;</span><a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/10/07/3-more-typical-pieces-of-financial-expert-advice-debunked/" title="3 More Typical Pieces of &ldquo;Financial Expert&rdquo; Advice: Debunked">who have not been previous homeowners</a><span>&nbsp;in the past two-years, which is awesome for first time buyers. However, the catch is only $10,000 of the early withdrawal avoids the 10% tax penalty on the funds, which means that you&rsquo;ll be paying an additional 10% tax on top of your additional income tax (which is determined by your tax bracket on those funds).</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><strong>5. You need cash readily available.</strong><span>&nbsp;Money put into your 401(k) should not be touched until the age you can withdraw without penalty.&nbsp;</span><a href="http://recessionista.com/2012/01/03/6-things-to-do-with-the-money-you-save-this-year/" title="6 Things to Do With the Money You Save This Year">Open up a savings account</a><span>&nbsp;at <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/fidelity" class="hidden_link">Fidelity</a> or <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/ing" class="hidden_link">ING</a>. It usually takes 2 or 3 days to electronically transfer funds back and forth which means it&rsquo;s there when you need it, just not when you&rsquo;re at the ATM. Although this vehicle isn&rsquo;t ideal for retirement as its taxed as ordinary income tax every year, it&rsquo;s a great way to start saving that chunk of change you can eventually use to open an IRA. Consider money-market savings accounts too, as they typically earn higher interest rates and are still less risky than stocks invested in at the beginning of 401(k)s.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><em>This <a href="http://recessionista.com/2012/01/27/5-people-who-shouldn%E2%80%99t-invest-in-a-401k/" target="_blank">post</a> originally appeared at <a href="http://recessionista.com/" target="_blank">Recessionista</a>.</em></p>
<h2><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/5-ways-to-check-if-youll-get-a-cut-of-the-26-billion-mortgage-settlement-2012-2#ixzz1m1N1Ffy9" target="_blank">How To Check If You'll Get A Cut Of The $25 Billion Mortgage Settlement &gt;</a><em><span><br /></span></em></h2><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nicole-lapin-here-are-5-people-who-shouldnt-invest-in-a-401k-2012-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/nicole-lapin-6-ways-to-make-the-money-you-save-this-year-work-for-you-2012-1NICOLE LAPIN: Municipal Bonds, Getting Ahead And 4 Other Ways To Make Your Money Work For You http://www.businessinsider.com/nicole-lapin-6-ways-to-make-the-money-you-save-this-year-work-for-you-2012-1
Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:30:00 -0500Nicole Lapin
<p><strong><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/4ec54014eab8ea6b4a000028/nicole-lapin.jpg" border="0" alt="nicole lapin" />1. Look to municipal bonds.</strong> High quality munis, at 2 1.2% tax free versus nothing in the bank. Bonus! Plus, if you buy municipal bonds in your home state, interest may be tax exempt not only on the federal level, but on your state&rsquo;s income tax too. Talk about a double whammy!</p>
<p><strong>2. Pay &lsquo;em down.</strong> Pay down the highest interest rate expense you have first, which is most likely your credit card.</p>
<p>These high rates will get you in the long term; get them under control before moving on to lesser expenditures.</p>
<p>Don&rsquo;t be scared to call your credit card provider and see what changes to your interest have been made in the new year.</p>
<p>Companies want to keep their best customers and many are cutting down interest costs for a portion of the year. If you&rsquo;re not happy with your card don&rsquo;t be scared to shop around for one that works best for you.</p>
<p><strong>3. Set up an emergency fund.</strong> Experts used to recommend 3-6 months worth of bills and expenses, but post-Recession 6-9 months is better if you can swing it. It&rsquo;s a great way to pad yourself for the unexpected &mdash; job loss, salary cut, moving expenses &mdash; and you&rsquo;ll be glad to have it when you need it.</p>
<p><strong>4. Further your career.</strong> Use the extra dough to get ahead at work. Subscribe to a trade magazine and study up for fresh ideas and approaches to share with your team, or your boss. Enroll in a class online or at a local university to improve your skills or learn a new one.</p>
<p><strong>5. Save on a schedule.</strong> Invest the same amount in a mutual fund every month. That ensures you&rsquo;ll buy more shares when they&rsquo;re cheap and fewer when they&rsquo;re expensive. We like T. Rowe Price&rsquo;s Automatic Asset Builder program, which lets you contribute as little as $50 a month to nearly any of its funds &mdash; and sneak under the usual $2,500 minimum initial investment.</p>
<p><strong>6. Watch your fund expenses.</strong> Look for mutual funds that have expenses below 1.33 percent for stock funds and 0.89 percent for bond funds; study after study shows that keeping investment costs low is the best way to increase your odds of earning a high return. The cheapest of the cheap are index funds from Vanguard or <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/fidelity" class="hidden_link">Fidelity</a>.</p>
<h2><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-and-worst-ways-to-stash-your-emergency-cash-2011-11" target="_blank">Don't miss: The best and worst places to save your emergency cash &gt; </a></h2><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nicole-lapin-6-ways-to-make-the-money-you-save-this-year-work-for-you-2012-1#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/a-day-in-the-life-of-26-year-old-nicole-lapin-as-she-tries-to-build-a-financial-media-empire-2011-11A Day In The Life Of 27-Year-Old Nicole Lapin As She Tries To Build A Financial Media Empirehttp://www.businessinsider.com/a-day-in-the-life-of-26-year-old-nicole-lapin-as-she-tries-to-build-a-financial-media-empire-2011-11
Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:57:00 -0500Noah Davis
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/4ec54014eab8ea6b4a000028/nicole-lapin.jpg" border="0" alt="nicole lapin" /></p><p>Nicole Lapin made quite a name for herself in a short period of time.</p>
<p>The 27 year old was a full-time anchor for four years at <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/cnn" class="hidden_link">CNN</a> and for two years at <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/cnbc-1" class="hidden_link">CNBC</a>.</p>
<p>But Lapin wants more.</p>
<p>In September, she launched her own Nothing But Gold Productions with designs of creating her own business media juggernaut.</p>
<p>On a recent day, she happily took pictures of her extremely busy schedule.</p><h3>Our guide for the day.</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/4ec6993deab8ea4b44000029-400-300/our-guide-for-the-day.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><h3>My alarm clock doesn’t go off quite as early now that I’m not doing the early show gig, but I still get up around 5:30 a.m. There’s something I can’t miss about Joe Weisenthal’s early morning tweets.</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/4ec52f036bb3f7ed3f000059-400-300/my-alarm-clock-doesnt-go-off-quite-as-early-now-that-im-not-doing-the-early-show-gig-but-i-still-get-up-around-530-am-theres-something-i-cant-miss-about-joe-weisenthals-early-morning-tweets.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><h3>Coffee and roses -- the best way to start any day. From the looks of this picture, I need to put on another pot! The flowers are from my good friend and fellow entrepreneur Randi Zuckerberg.</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/4ec52efd6bb3f76d4a000022-400-300/coffee-and-roses-the-best-way-to-start-any-day-from-the-looks-of-this-picture-i-need-to-put-on-another-pot-the-flowers-are-from-my-good-friend-and-fellow-entrepreneur-randi-zuckerberg.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/a-day-in-the-life-of-26-year-old-nicole-lapin-as-she-tries-to-build-a-financial-media-empire-2011-11#only-one-thing-on-the-agenda-today-at-my-office-actually-were-not-that-narcissistic-its-just-a-new-white-board-and-we-were-testing-out-our-fancy-new-markers-its-the-little-things-right-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/cnbcs-nicole-lapin-you-do-not-need-to-pay-off-your-student-loans-asap-2011-11NICOLE LAPIN: You Do Not Need To Pay Off Your Student Loans ASAPhttp://www.businessinsider.com/cnbcs-nicole-lapin-you-do-not-need-to-pay-off-your-student-loans-asap-2011-11
Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:36:00 -0500Nicole Lapin
<h4><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4ec521efeab8ea8e20000010/nicole-lapin.jpg" border="0" alt="Nicole Lapin" />&ldquo;Buy in bulk.&rdquo;</h4>
<p><em>Get it fresh.</em></p>
<p>Financial experts are always telling you to grocery shop on the cheap: cut coupons, join wholesale clubs, and buy in bulk. But guess what: your health is <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/10/22/buy-that-latte/" target="_blank" title="Buy That Latte!">worth it</a>.</p>
<p>Packaged foods might be cheap and perpetually on sale, but fresh produce and whole grains give your body the nutrients it needs to stave off colds, obesity, and disease &ndash; oh and also, you guessed it, expensive medical bills.</p>
<p>In fact, studies have shown that buying healthy food and cooking at home (as opposed to &ldquo;cheap&rdquo; fast food and prepared meals) is actually less expensive in the long run: a typical <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/10/15/business-partner-relationship-kid-ventures/" target="_blank" title="&ldquo;F&rdquo; Words Fill Family Office">family of four</a> will spend nearly $30 for a meal at the drive-through window, while a basic and nutritious meal of rice, beans and fresh vegetables makes enough for a few days&rsquo; worth of leftovers for less than $10.</p>
<h4>Makeup is a &ldquo;luxury&rdquo; item.</h4>
<p><em>You&rsquo;re worth it!</em></p>
<p>Lipstick and mascara might seem essential to most women, but financial experts are constantly telling you that they&rsquo;re luxury items. But a team of Harvard researchers found recently that wearing a moderate amount of makeup <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/10/20/5-things-never-to-wear-to-work/" target="_blank" title="5 Things NEVER to Wear to Work">makes your colleagues take you more seriously</a> (well, if you&rsquo;re a chick).</p>
<p>Researchers showed subjects the same woman with varying degrees of makeup on, and the one with a moderate amount of makeup on (clean and professional looking but not overdone) was assumed to be the most &ldquo;competent.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Considering that a decent tube of lipstick costs around $8, it&rsquo;s a small price to pay to make a good impression and tell people that you care about being presentable. Plus, it&rsquo;s a quick and inexpensive way to <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/09/09/jenny-from-the-block-on-a-budget/" target="_blank" title="Sneak Peek: Jenny From the Block &ndash; On a Budget">glam up your wardrobe</a> without buying <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/10/10/e-news-ashlan-gorse/" target="_blank" title="Ashlan Goes Closet Shopping">new clothes or accessories</a>.</p>
<h4>Pay off those student loans ASAP!</h4>
<p><em>Keep it steady.</em></p>
<p>So you&rsquo;re finally making dough. Before you move on to the big &ldquo;life&rdquo; purchases like a house or a car, many financial experts will tell you to start throwing money at your student loans.</p>
<p>The earlier you can pay them off, the better. But if your student loans operate on a sliding scale, you might want to <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/10/23/10-things-i-think-ive-learned-9/" target="_blank" title="10 Things (I Think) I&rsquo;ve Learned">put on the breaks</a>. It&rsquo;s a snowball effect: the faster you start paying them off, the faster your monthly payment can ramp up.</p>
<p>Paying off your student loans too aggressively can also damage your credit score, making your creditors take notice if you slow down again too quickly.</p>
<p>Don&rsquo;t <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/10/04/bbqueen/" target="_blank" title="BBQueen">bite off more than you can chew</a>, as you never know what curveballs (or pink slips) might come your way down the road. Better to stick to the original plan, even if you get that huge bonus &ndash; after all, slow and steady wins the race!</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cnbcs-nicole-lapin-you-do-not-need-to-pay-off-your-student-loans-asap-2011-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/sound-classier-by-replacing-the-word-awesome-with-these-alternatives-2011-11Sound Classier By Replacing The Word 'Awesome' With These Alternativeshttp://www.businessinsider.com/sound-classier-by-replacing-the-word-awesome-with-these-alternatives-2011-11
Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:01:25 -0500Nicole Lapin
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4ec28bd0eab8ea5a5d000018/golden-girls.jpg" border="0" alt="Golden Girls" /></p><p>1. <em>Divine &mdash;</em> We love the subtle reference to &ldquo;Golden Girls&rdquo; here. It&rsquo;s just the right mix of <a href="http://recessionista.com/recessionista/" target="_blank" title="Recessionista">smart and a little snotty</a> &mdash; and perfect for describing that awes- er, DIVINE vintage handbag you found <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/10/10/e-news-ashlan-gorse/" target="_blank" title="Ashlan Goes Closet Shopping">at the flea market</a> last weekend.</p>
<p>2. <em>Sublime &mdash;</em> According to Webster&rsquo;s, this term refers to a <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/11/07/alycia-lane-is-a-d-i-y-diva/" target="_blank" title="Alycia Lane is a D-I-Y Diva">greatness beyond all possibility of calculation</a>, measurement or imitation. Sound like the <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/11/07/raw-food-darling-wont-forget-her-first/" target="_blank" title="Raw Food Darling Won&rsquo;t Forget Her First">agave-sweetened</a> mint chocolate chip ice cream sundae you just devoured? Then this word&rsquo;s for you.</p>
<p>3. <em>Lovely &mdash;</em> There&rsquo;s something <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/11/06/got-the-urge-giambattista-valli-for-impulse/" target="_blank" title="Got the Urge? Giambattista Valli for Impulse for Macy&rsquo;s">very Holly Golightly</a> about tossing this adjective around. Can also be used sarcastically to great effect: &ldquo;How was <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/11/07/how-to-be-a-cheap-date-but-still-feel-fancy/" target="_blank" title="How To: Be a Cheap Date (But Still Feel Fancy!)">your date</a> with that guy your mom set you up with?&rdquo; / &ldquo;It was&hellip;lovely.&rdquo;</p>
<p>4. <em>Brilliant &mdash;</em> As ambassadors for <a href="http://www.facebook.com/gorecessionista" target="_blank">smart, sassy ladies everywhere</a>, this is one of our faves. Not only does it honor <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/11/02/celeb-dentist-will-never-forget-her-first/" target="_blank" title="Celeb Dentist Will Never Forget Her First&hellip;">intellect and cleverness</a>, but it&rsquo;s also borrowed (lovingly) from our friends across the pond!</p>
<p>5. <em>Splendid &mdash;</em> How else would you describe a Sunday afternoon spent <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/08/31/10-things-i-think-ive-learned-8/" target="_blank" title="10 Things (I Think) I&rsquo;ve Learned">languishing at brunch</a> and then <a href="http://recessionista.com/dealsandsteals/" target="_blank" title="Deals &amp; Steals">boutique shopping</a> with one of your besties? For those <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/10/10/10-things-i-think-ive-learned-5/" target="_blank" title="10 Things (I Think) I&rsquo;ve Learned">oh-so-perfect</a> life moments, nothing other than this regal word will do.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sound-classier-by-replacing-the-word-awesome-with-these-alternatives-2011-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/fall-trends-and-what-not-to-wear-to-work-2011-11NICOLE LAPIN: Fall Trends And What Not To Wear To Workhttp://www.businessinsider.com/fall-trends-and-what-not-to-wear-to-work-2011-11
Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:44:00 -0500Nicole Lapin
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/4ebc0d3169bedd413f000022/nicolelapinimg.jpg" border="0" alt="NicoleLapinImg" /></p><p>We get it: you&rsquo;re always ahead of the fashion curve and the first of your friends to wear the latest and greatest trends.</p>
<p>After all, <a href="http://recessionista.com/recessionista/" target="_blank" title="Recessionista">you&rsquo;re a Recessionista</a>. But remember that not all of fall&rsquo;s hot styles translate from the runway to the office &mdash; no matter who&rsquo;s wearing them.</p>
<p>A quick rundown of this season&rsquo;s not-to-wears&hellip;at least before 5 o&rsquo;clock!</p>
<p><strong>Colored jeans:</strong> We think these are pretty cool. In fact, we may or may not have a bright yellow pair in our closet right now.</p>
<p>But just because the leaves outside are changing colors doesn&rsquo;t mean you should be <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/10/08/getting-down-to-business/" target="_blank" title="Getting Down to &ldquo;Business&rdquo;">strutting around the office</a> in the same autumnal hues.</p>
<p>The extreme colors shown here are distracting, plus not quite the fit that screams &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a working professional.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Stick with your <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/10/10/10-things-i-think-ive-learned-5/" target="_blank" title="10 Things (I Think) I&rsquo;ve Learned">tailored separates</a> for 9-5, and just think how much fun it will be to pull these puppies on come Friday! Friday night, that is.</p>
<p><strong>Mad Men Hats:</strong> Unless you work for an advertising agency on Madison Avenue run by Don Draper (swoon), and you&rsquo;re actually a guy, oh and it also happens to be the 1960s&hellip;then a Fedora-style hat has <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/10/20/5-things-never-to-wear-to-work/" target="_blank" title="5 Things NEVER to Wear to Work">no business being on your head</a> while you&rsquo;re at work.</p>
<p>Thanks in part to the popular show, these hats have <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/10/18/147/" target="_blank" title="Coffee and Chocolate Funemployment Heaven">made a huge comeback</a>, and we have to say that we generally like the return to accessorizing with headwear.</p>
<p>But hats are best worn on your own time. After all, we want to see that pretty face! And serious hat-hear at post-work drinks does not a Recessionista flatter.</p>
<p><strong>Fur vests:</strong> We all love <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/11/03/the-road-more-traveled/" target="_blank" title="The Road More Traveled">being cozy</a> this time of year, but there&rsquo;s just no excuse for wearing an animal to work. Not only might you be confused for a stray running around the office; you&rsquo;ll also likely overheat through whatever you&rsquo;re wearing underneath.</p>
<p>Swap the fur for cashmere for a classy way to be comfy at work, and wait til the weekend to embrace your inner Mink.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/fall-trends-and-what-not-to-wear-to-work-2011-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/nicole-lapin-how-to-be-a-cheap-classy-date-2011-11CNBC's NICOLE LAPIN: How To Be A Cheap, Classy Datehttp://www.businessinsider.com/nicole-lapin-how-to-be-a-cheap-classy-date-2011-11
Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:44:00 -0500Nicole Lapin
<p><span><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/4e68989ceab8ea4908000035/nicole-lapin.jpg" border="0" alt="Nicole Lapin" />L</span>et&rsquo;s face it ladies, we like to be wined and dined.</p>
<p>But after a weekend of <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/10/08/3-typical-pieces-of-financial-expert-advice-debunked/" target="_blank" title="3 Typical Pieces of &ldquo;Financial Expert&rdquo; Advice: Debunked">burning up the ATM</a> you and your man could probably <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/09/13/10-things-i-think-ive-learned-4/" target="_blank" title="10 Things (I Think) I&rsquo;ve Learned">use a break</a>.</p>
<p>No need to sacrifice the fanciness: suggest using these fun and easy ways to save money on your next date <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/10/31/big-primpin-%e2%80%94-on-the-cheap/" target="_blank" title="Big Primpin&rsquo; &mdash; On the Cheap!">without cramping your style</a>, or the piece of plastic in your new clutch.</p>
<p><strong>Suggest tapas instead of dinner:</strong> YUM.</p>
<p>There&rsquo;s nothing we love more than variety, but challenging him to a buffet eat-off contest might not be your best bet.</p>
<p>Tapas are small appetizer plates that are <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/11/04/sofia-vergara-heats-it-up-at-kmart/" target="_blank" title="Sofia Vergara Heats it Up at Kmart">dressed to impress</a>: they look fancy without the hefty price tag and are available in a variety of options like salads, bacon wrapped dates, chicken skewers, and flatbreads.</p>
<p>These small bites are satisfying without killing your budget, or hurting your dance moves <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/10/28/josie-and-the-cheapy-cats-at-target/" target="_blank" title="Josie and the Cheapy Cats at Target">later in the night</a>.</p>
<p>If you&rsquo;re in the NYC area check out <a href="http://www.pipa-nyc.com/" target="_blank">Pipa&rsquo;s</a> in Gramercy. With dozens of chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, dim lighting, and a menu that&rsquo;s drool-worthy, you and your honey will have more talk about than just the food.</p>
<p>Jaleo tapas-bar in DC offers &ldquo;Jaleo Hour&rdquo; packed with four-dollar tapas and drinks; you just might find yourself there more than once a week. Don&rsquo;t worry, <a href="http://recessionista.com/contact/" target="_blank" title="Contact">your secret is safe with us</a> &mdash; and when the price is right, you can afford it!</p>
<p><strong>Get your coupon on with <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/groupon" class="hidden_link">Groupon</a>: </strong> You don&rsquo;t feel guilty printing every Groupon offer for the spa or a dinner deal for girl&rsquo;s night out, so why feel guilty about bringing one along on your next date?</p>
<p>You might be thinking &ldquo;<a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/09/20/10-things-i-think-ive-learned-3/" target="_blank" title="10 Things (I Think) I&rsquo;ve Learned">tacky</a>,&rdquo; but you&rsquo;re wrong sister &mdash; instead think &ldquo;thrifty.&rdquo; Print the coupon out and hand it to the waiter before you sit down and get the deal without having to pull that awkward piece of paper out of your purse at the end of the night.</p>
<p>Not only will you look like a <a href="http://recessionista.com/recessionista/" target="_blank" title="Recessionista">savvy Recessionista</a>, but you will also earn some major points with the hottie who just paid for your dinner.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/uber" class="hidden_link">Uber</a> cool, Uber cars:</strong> Sure, taxis are cooler than taking the subway or the horse-drawn carriages that linger around Central Park, but Uber cars are the new date-night taxi go-to.</p>
<p>We&rsquo;re telling you, we wish we knew this sooner because once you Uber, you don&rsquo;t go back. This car service offers an affordable alternative to a private car with less of the hassle. The <a href="http://www.twitter.com/gorecessionista" target="_blank">text messaging service</a> tells you how far away your driver is and Uber keeps your credit card information on file; no cash, no problem.</p>
<p>So, the next time you&rsquo;re celebrating a big occasion with your man or you want to spice up dinner and movie, trade up to Uber cars and make it ultra magical.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nicole-lapin-how-to-be-a-cheap-classy-date-2011-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/debunked-common-financial-expert-advice-2011-11DEBUNKED: Common Advice From 'Financial Experts' http://www.businessinsider.com/debunked-common-financial-expert-advice-2011-11
Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:36:00 -0400Nicole Lapin
<p><em><img style="float:right;" src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/4bc7145f7f8b9a585ae80200-400-299/accountant.jpg" border="0" alt="Accountant" width="400" height="299" />When you hear advice over and over again, it doesn&rsquo;t mean it is right. &nbsp;It doesn&rsquo;t mean it is wrong, either. Just don&rsquo;t take the platitudes as fact. &nbsp;Rethink and <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/09/13/10-things-i-think-ive-learned-4/" target="_blank" title="10 Things (I Think) I&rsquo;ve Learned">think for yourself</a>.</em><strong></strong></p>
<h3><strong>1. &ldquo;Invest in a 401k&rdquo; </strong></h3>
<p><em>I say think about ditching your&nbsp;401k.</em></p>
<p>The biggest thing to remember about trusting your employer with your investments is: that you are trusting your employer with your investments.</p>
<p>If you want the best returns, you are most likely in a stock plan &mdash; but that also means that you&rsquo;re exposed to market risk, meaning that when stocks crash, so does your money.</p>
<p>And whatever <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/10/22/buy-that-latte/" target="_blank" title="Buy That Latte!">wealth you are accumulating</a> in a 401k (if any) can be susceptible to inflation risk &mdash; because if you are taking macro factors into consideration, you could be wiped out by inflation.</p>
<p>One of the most alluring parts of investing in a 401k is having your employer match your contributions. But guess what? Many employers don&rsquo;t. Many 401ks also have ridiculously high fees and commissions that are simply not worth the risk of the unknown.</p>
<p>As the old adage goes, better to take &ldquo;money in my pocket&rdquo; over &ldquo;promises that can&rsquo;t be kept&rdquo; any day.<strong></strong></p>
<h3><strong>2. &ldquo;Diversify your portfolio!&rdquo;</strong></h3>
<p><em>Rethink diversification.</em></p>
<p>You hear asset allocation and diversification all the time.</p>
<p>Lots of financial experts say they work their magic over time because you are forced to buy low and sell high. The idea is that, by <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/09/09/jenny-from-the-block-on-a-budget/" target="_blank" title="Sneak Peek: Jenny From the Block &ndash; On a Budget">mixing things up</a> in your portfolio, you&rsquo;re less likely to experience major drops, because when some sectors experience tough times, others may be thriving.</p>
<p>You may be more isolated from big losses by diversifying, but you&rsquo;re also isolated from big gains &ndash; and if all of the eggs in your basket are duds, you&rsquo;re never going to get ahead, no matter how many different eggs you might have.</p>
<p>You can also hit max overload &ndash; studies have shown that, while some diversification reduces market risk, the market risk isn&rsquo;t reduced by a significant amount once you hit having around 20 stocks or more. So don&rsquo;t spread yourself too thin. &nbsp;And, please, for the love of God, stop stressing about diversification it&rsquo;s not magically going to make you a millionaire.<strong></strong></p>
<h3><strong>3. &nbsp;&rdquo;Buy a home!&rdquo;</strong></h3>
<p><em>Rent a home.</em></p>
<p>It used to be that putting a down payment on a house or apartment was the sure fire way to build your net worth. But after <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/10/18/147/" target="_blank" title="Coffee and Chocolate Funemployment Heaven">the roller coaster ride that housing has been on</a> in recent years, it&rsquo;s time to take a closer look at renting.</p>
<p>Buying a house comes with tons of additional costs &ndash; transaction fees for the broker, maintenance fees, renovations &ndash; while many of those costs are included when you rent an apartment.</p>
<p>Renting allows you greater flexibility to take <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/10/26/play-to-your-work-weakness/" target="_blank" title="Play to Your Work Weakness">any opportunities that might come your way</a>, and you typically have more leverage in negotiating rent than with a full-on mortgage.</p>
<p>Also, remember that down payment &ndash; typically about 20% of the mortgage. You don&rsquo;t get that money back like you do a security deposit.</p>
<p>And while buying a home adds to your assets, remember that it&rsquo;s illiquid &ndash; if you <a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/09/29/funemployed-linda-pond/" target="_blank" title="Her &ldquo;Hot and Bitchy&rdquo; Pink Slip Opportunity">fall on hard times</a> and need cash, it&rsquo;s not easy to quickly sell a home &ndash; especially in this market &ndash; without losing substantial value on your investment.</p>
<p><em>No, don&rsquo;t stick your money under a mattress! &nbsp;<a href="http://recessionista.com/2011/10/22/buy-that-latte/" target="_blank" title="Buy That Latte!">Invest in yourself</a>. &nbsp;Always wanted to be a French Professor? Take a french class &hellip; investing in yourself could eventually pay the biggest dividends.</em></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/debunked-common-financial-expert-advice-2011-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/wall-street-gossip-15-2011-6GOSSIP: Today's Wall Street Buzz in 60 Seconds (C, MS, UBS, JPM)http://www.businessinsider.com/wall-street-gossip-15-2011-6
Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:35:00 -0400Katya Wachtel
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/4d431abb49e2aeeb14200000/nicole-lapin.jpg" border="0" alt="Nicole Lapin" /></p><p>Here's legendary hedge fund investor <strong>Don Brownstein'</strong>s <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/don-brownstein-how-to-fix-the-housing-market-2011-6">solution for the housing crisis</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Jamie Dimon</strong> made an <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/KateKellyCNBC/statuses/81027298236698624">appearane at the Carlyle bakeoff site. </a></p>
<p>Citi<a href="http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/06/15/ubs-poaches-citigroup-tech-bankers/"> poached two bankers from UBS</a> for its tech group. <strong>Doug Brengel</strong> will be chairman of techn banking. <strong>Bill Frauenhofer</strong> will be an MD in the tech group.</p>
<p>Citi hired <strong>Elinor Hoover</strong> <a href="http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/06/15/citi-hires-senior-capital-markets-banker/">from Morgan Stanley</a> as a vice chairwoman for capital markets.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/power-couple-cnbcs-nicole-lapin-and-the-new-york-timess-brian-stelter-2011-6">Congrats to a new power couple</a> -- <strong>Nicole Lapin</strong> of CNBC and <strong>Brian Stelter</strong> of the New York Times.</p>
<p><strong>Paul Hawkins</strong> will <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-15/hawkins-joins-credit-suisse-as-global-head-of-commodities-from-lukoil-unit.html">join Credit Suisse as global head of commodities.</a></p>
<p><strong>Bill Ackman's</strong> JC Penney investment has paid off.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/bill-ackman-made-476-million-profit-jc-penney-shareprice-ron-johnson-2011-6">Pershing Square's investment in the retailer has recorded a $476 million profit.</a></p>
<p>The <strong>UBS</strong> equity sales team <a href="%20http://www.businessinsider.com/ubs-traders-get-memo-suits-are-now-mandatory-2011-6">was told in a memo</a> that "suits are now mandatory" at the office.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financevideo/8574726/The-Global-Party-a-Phileas-Fogg-inspired-charity-phenomenon.html">Over 80,000 of the "world's elite from business, media, the arts and society"</a> have been invited to the "social event of the decade" to raise as much as &pound;60 million for charity. </p>
<p>Irish bankers <a href="http://www.independent.ie/opinion/editorial/change-culture-of-banker-perks-now-2673034.html">got cars as bonuses</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/wall-street-gossip-15-2011-6#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/nicole-lapin-confesses-her-love-for-cigars-2011-1Guess What Nicole Lapin Has In Common With Fidel Castro?http://www.businessinsider.com/nicole-lapin-confesses-her-love-for-cigars-2011-1
Fri, 28 Jan 2011 15:00:00 -0500Ujala Sehgal
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/4d431abb49e2aeeb14200000/nicole-lapin.jpg" border="0" alt="Nicole Lapin" /></p><p> <strong>Nicole Lapin</strong>, CNBC's Worldwide Exchange anchor, was featured in <a href="http://www.cigaraficionado.com/"><em>Cigar Aficionado Magazine</em></a> this month -- and now she confesses her love of cigars to CNBC's <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/41310902">Net Net</a>.</p>
<p>Cigar smoking is on the rise for women in the U.S., writes <strong>Lapin</strong>: "Today, cigars don&rsquo;t signify the same male-bonding machismo."</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">But, I must say, Europeans are much more laissez-faire about the whole thing. Living in Paris, I used to get asked if I wanted a cigar at lunch. Mais, oui!</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I haven&rsquo;t been to The World Economic Forum in Davos, but I&rsquo;m hearing the same thing from my female colleagues out of there this week.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">What happens in these smoky lounges isn&rsquo;t a secret&mdash;it&rsquo;s just nostalgia, camaraderie and finding idiosyncratic common ground.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nicole-lapin-confesses-her-love-for-cigars-2011-1#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p>